CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 37, 11 February 1903, Page 2

CRICKET.

PEE FBESS ASSOCIATION. Ohristchurck, Februaiy 10. The gross takings at tbe gate for tha cricket match between tbe Englishmen and Otnterbury were £763. Both morning papers editorially attack the English teim fur ungeatlemany conduct in the field yesterday. The Press suggests an apology is dua to th.j loci! men. Sj far, however, no mo:e has been made of the nutter by thu visitors. Mr Warner, captain of t,t:e team, has gone out of town. Tilt iivida.it is creating great axoiWmant and intanss indignation here.

MB WARNER'S EXPLANATION. Ohbwtohubch, February 10. With refer.nco to the unpleasant episode on Monday afternoon, Mr. Rhodes, the President of tbe Canterbury Cricket Association, has received iho following letter from Mr Warner: -" Reft-riing to the incident which has be.u so fully commented on in tha pip ra this morning, I need not, lam sure, say h>w much I regret that anything of this kind should nave occurred to mar the enjoyment of the beat contested match we have yet had in New Zealand, and therefore I hope I may be ail iw> d to make a few remarks on what

actutlly occurred. In the first pi ice, we did not dispute the umpires' decision, but sjine deWy took place before we could get the umpires to give any decision which, ultimately, was that bei-her of them had actually seen what ocjurrei, and I at occe ordered tha g-tia*! to pro-.oed. My remark, referred to in the papers, was made soma minutes after the dtcision hid been given, a-jd was ad iressed to one of tha members of our own side, and I very much regret to find tint it was overheard, and, still mora, that it should have been repeated The statement

that succeeding batgneu wero subjected to a riruning fir* of taunts find criticism is absolutely wubout foundation, I have tbis morning seen s ima of them and th«y assart ma that nothing of the kind took plaot. I hope i his letter will prove satisfactory to your Aseooiation, and I o«n only add that we all regret that anything of tha kind should have happened. Mr Rhodes states th»t he has MM the other two members of the English team againbt whom complaints wen made, and they have expressed their legret that they made any remarks ia the he it of the moment to whioh objtotion could be taken by batsmen. Mr Rhodes hopes that this apology will close ths incident, and that no further reference will be nude to it,